About your Guide:

Matthew Nochisaki is an Entomologist, natural history photographer, and all around tropical biologist with a dedication for revealing the mysteries of the natural world. His main focus is on the unknown lives of insects and their behaviors. He has devoted most of his life educating all ages on insects and other misunderstood organisms. His main fields of interest include neotropical insects such as katydids, mantises, and moths, rainforest plants, and neotropical snakes. If there is an insect you want to observe to photograph or just get a closer look, no matter how elusive, Matthew will be able to find it for you. 

The deposit to secure your spot on the trip is non-refundable for any reason. 

The balance of payment is due no later than 35 days before the trip begins. The balance of payment is non-refundable for any reason 35 days or less before the trip begins. 

In Puerto Maldonado, you'll stay in a modest but comfortable hotel. You will have your own room including wifi and a private bathroom.

In the jungle you will be staying at the Alta Sanctuary an exclusive lodge operated by Tamandua Expeditions. Our recently renovated lodge is nestled on the Las Piedras Watershed surrounded by 50,000 acres of primary rainforest protected by The Junglekeepers Rangers.

The station is equipped with cabanas that can accommodate three people and are setup with three beds including mosquito nets. Bathrooms are shared and are located within the main platform area. 

The living space is a common, generous open area that offers a kitchen, dining area, hammock and couch to relax between activities. 

The meeting point for this trip is Puerto Maldonado, Peru (airport code PEM). Please wait to hear from us before booking your flight. The trip needs a minimum of 5 people to run. 

You will be staying at a hotel in town on the day of arrival and the night before departing, so your flight times can be any time during the day. 

Land at the airport and take a short cab ride to the hotel. Our guide will meet the group to discuss the plans for the expedition. Spend some time in town to absorb the local culture and cuisine before resting up in a hotel room for the next day’s adventure.

Set your alarms because today we will begin our trek to the lodge. The group takes a car ride for about 4 hours, then an hour boat ride through pristine rainforest directly to the lodge where the group will settle into their rooms and get acquainted with the surroundings. 

The jungle begins to wake up just as the sun rises. You will have the opportunity to go on a morning walk and enjoy the sounds of the forest on most mornings of the trip. Those who choose to go on a morning walk will eat breakfast upon returning to the station after a morning on the trails.

Each day Matthew will provide a short talk / presentation on a different entomological topic, such as insect behavior, how to find certain species, photographing insects, different methods of attracting them, etc.

Day Activities:

Coming to the rainforest means that you are at the whims of Mother Nature. That is why Tamandua Expeditions guides aim to customize activities based on the weather conditions, group dynamics/interests, and special conditions of the season. Daylight hours are the perfect time to swim, hike, fish, and explore the thousands of acres of rainforest protected by Junglekeepers.

No matter the day, our guides will ensure that each available hour is packed with entertainment, education, and exploration.

Lunch happens around noon. The jungle can take a lot of energy out of you. That is why we provide you with nutritious, regionally specific meals that are catered to educate you about local culture while also fueling your body for the day and night ahead.

More activities in the afternoon. Then dinner which will be a good time to unwind and talk with everyone, hear ideas of what the guests would like to experience on their trip, and add to our growing species list. Enjoy a comforting meal as the sun sets and the moon begins to rise. The day is certainly not over.

Night Activities:

After eating before dusk on the first night Matthew will demonstrate how mercury vapor and blacklight work for attracting moths and other nocturnal insects. The group will run the light trap every night to ensure that no stone is unturned and every group member has an opportunity to see as many insects as possible.  This technique will ensure that the sheet will be COVERED in moths and other insects most nights. Tamandua Expeditions is dedicated to ethical handling of wildlife and traps will be dismantled every evening to prevent unnatural predation events by birds when the sun rises.

Night walks are an important part of experiencing biodiversity in the rainforest. After dinner everyone will have an opportunity to explore the forest at night seeking out nocturnal mammals, insects, and reptiles. Upon our return, the light traps should be teeming with life.

Additional night activities:

- Talks by other group members that outline different areas of subject matter expertise

- Using Social media for science communication and conservation hosted by Matthew

- Stargazing by the river 

- iNaturalist demonstration

- Enjoying the lounge area with your new friends and group members

After days of discovering insects and other jungle inhabitant, enjoy one last breakfast at Alta Sanctuary, one last morning of birds songs and forest noises. That day the group will make its way back to town, the exact reverse way from the way in. A boat ride, a dirt track road and lastly a paved road back to Puerto, where you will stay in a comfortable hotel in Puerto Maldonado.

Tamandua guides will see you off to the airport. Until next time!